Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves are under fire from former NBA champion Kendrick Perkins.
What happened?
Perkins criticized the Los Angeles Lakers for building their roster around Dončić and Reaves, citing their defensive struggles as a major concern.
The Lakers signed Dončić in a blockbuster trade with the Dallas Mavericks in 2025 and offered Reaves a four-year, $185 million maximum contract.
Why it matters for Luka Dončić
Dončić and Reaves are known for their potent offensive skills, but their defensive vulnerabilities could come back to haunt the Lakers in crunch time.
Perkins, who won the NBA championship with the Boston Celtics in 2008, expressed his concerns on 'Perk Unplugged', stating that 'it ain't a player or team in the world that's afraid of Luka and Austin Reaves'.
What comes next?
The Lakers will need to address their defensive issues if they want to compete against the elite teams in the Western Conference.
Dončić reportedly requested the Lakers sign an 'A-List center' to maximize his playmaking and help them compete against the best big men in the league.
Perkins responded to this claim, saying 'there ain't nobody out there you can go and get that's going to match up with Wemby, that's going to be able to go against those twin towers in Oklahoma'.
The future of LeBron James could also impact the Lakers' roster, as he is set to become an unrestricted free agent, with reports linking him to the Miami Heat and the Cleveland Cavaliers.
The Lakers will be keen to resolve James' future in the coming weeks and make moves to bolster their roster for the upcoming season.